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Northampton's fury over video referee

Saracens 19 Northampton 16

JIM MALLINDER described it as "disappointing and infuriating" - diplomatic to say the least. He was talking about the decision of video referee Dave Matthews in the 79th minute, which he believed cost Northampton victory at Wembley in front of nearly 45,000 spectators. From the video evidence it appeared that his terrifically hard-running Tongan prop forward, Soane Tonga'uiha, made the try line - and for good measure, if he didn't score, the ball seemed to travel backwards with Courtney Lawes diving over.

Mallinder is not one of the sport's more volatile characters but the call was hard to stomach after the Saints fought back from 16-3 to chisel a chance to steal the win. Slightly more creative than the home side, the Saints will have headed home ruing what could have been and feeling that an extra edge of flair frequently centred on the exciting chaos that Shane Geraghty generates from fly-half.